Landowska, Wanda. (1879–1959) [Tolstoy, Leo. (1828–1910)]
Signed Photograph with Tolstoy
An especially interesting postcard photograph from the Polish-French harpsichordist whose performances, teaching, recordings, and writings played a large role in reviving the popularity of the harpsichord in the early 20th century.One page, 3.5 x 5.25, February 25, 1921. In French, on the correspondence side of a photo postcard bearing an image of Landowska playing for Leo Tolstoy. Translated in full: "Because he [Tolstoy] spoke to me so much about you and your husband! With sympathy and in rejoicing of seeing you again. Wanda Landowska."
A uniform shade of toning, a couple pencil notations to bottom, and a light crease to right edge, otherwise fine condition.
The 1907 black and white photograph captures a young Landowska seated in front of the Russian literary giant, seen in the Cossack garb of his later years. The photograph was taken at the author’s estate, Yasnaya Polyana, by Tolstoy's wife, Sophia. Landowska performed for Tolstoy once in 1907 and twice in 1909. In "Lev Tolstoi i muzyka: vospominaniia" ("Leo Tolstoy and music: reminiscences") [Moscow: Gosudarstvennoe muzykal’noe izdatel’stvo, 1953], Goldenveizer reports how Tolstoy very much liked the works of ancient composers that she performed on piano and harpsichord (TM39). Gusev confirms that Tolstoy particularly liked the old French folk dances and oriental songs she played on the harpsichord (TM12), but comments that Tolstoy was not entirely satisfied with her performance in January 1909, about which he wrote “Landowska plays nicely, agreeably, but does not turn the soul inside out” (TM8). (8384)
Signed Photograph Classical Music